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Cabling, More or Less better?

Projector technology is so advance that even the most basic models have multiple input variety. On top of the usual VGA/ RGB Connection, some of the common inputs include S-Video, Composite Video, Component, DVI, HDMI, USB etc. So how does one decide which cable to be installed for a ceiling mounted setup?

Before you jump into any decision, we must first determine the general requirement for this ceiling mounted projector.

Video:

Without doubt, the main requirement for the projector is to project a video signal from a source (i.e. PC, DVD Player) With the multiple input options, apart from the convenience of different input ports to match those in your player source, the video quality varies with different connecting ports.

So it will be radical to connect cables that give you the best possible image quality. As a guide, the quality of the transmission runs in the following sequence (lowest to highest)

S-Video

VGA

Composite

Component

DVI

HDMI

Audio:

If the projector comes with internal speakers and you have no intention to install additional speakers, it is always good to lay the cables to tap on the internal speakers.

The common options for audio connection includes Audio Mini-Jack, Composite RCA, HDMI etc.

The limitation of the cable signal strength should also be considered to avoid installing a cable that is unable to transmit good signal over long distances. So understanding the maximum signal tolerance of each cable is an important consideration during cable selection. Example a good USB signal will not last beyond 5m and a good HDMI signal will not last beyond 8-10m.

Having said the above, some of the most common uses can be used as a guide.